15 February 2021 10:59 pm
In response to concerns raised by India about a Chinese company involved in some power projects in the North, the Chinese embassy said today (15) it was purely a commercial activity undertaken through an open international bidding process.
Sri Lanka awarded the contract to a Chinese company to execute three renewable energy projects in the islands off Jaffna. There were media reports earlier that India raised concerns in this regard on the basis that it posed a security threat to India.
A spokesman for the embassy said yesterday the related Chinese company is a private one.
“It is in accordance with the international bidding procedures. As far as China is concerned, the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises, no matter from any country, should be protected, as long as the cooperation is on Sri Lankan territory, abiding by Sri Lankan laws and international rules, and being approved by the Sri Lankan government. Only by doing this could the government ensure the confidence of foreign investors and the continuous development of its own country,” he said.
He said it was an open bid funded by Asian Development Bank(ADB). “Sri Lanka is a sovereign state which has the right to choose the most suitable contractor for its biggest interest,” he said .